Hyperion APR-16 AV Processor Review

[Krobar]

I received special access to beta version of the firmware which fixed the issues I found. Review is updated with IMD and THD+N results. Here is the latter:

The update process was somewhat glitchy so I hope they fix that by the time it is released.

Did the analogue in THD+n vs frequency change too? Any change to the overall SINAD figure? (Forgive my ignorance but I thought <300hz would still affect the overall figure)

 

[antcollinet]

Did the analogue in THD+n vs frequency change too? Any change to the overall SINAD figure? (Forgive my ignorance but I thought <300hz would still affect the overall figure)

Basic sInad measurement is done at a single frequency of 1kHz - so no.

 

[Krobar]

Basic sInad measurement is done at a single frequency of 1kHz - so no.

Thanks. Measurement wise the APR-16 looks like the class leader now (Better performance than AV10 with HDMI). Also was not mentioned in the review that this is pretty much the only AVP to support full 48Gbit HDMI 2.1 rather than being limited to 40Gbit although no OSD.

 

[ppierre]

Sorry, as a German i have to add a bit of education

https://sapling.ai/ai-content-detector/027ac93e24811b02fd4dd31dedbd5d0f

As a German you don't give a ____ about forum rule and think everyone is glade to read AI slop.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/official-policy-on-use-of-ai.66323/

 

[grobalt]

https://sapling.ai/ai-content-detector/027ac93e24811b02fd4dd31dedbd5d0f

As a German you don't give a ____ about forum rule and think everyone is glade to read AI slop.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/official-policy-on-use-of-ai.66323/

if you are registered since years ... you are not looking each time you post something if new rules exist, do you ? sorry i did the ai research and pasted it ...

 

[Cbdb2]

So are you.
You should have written "You're still wrong".
This one-upmanship nonsense could go on forever, couldn't it?
How about we just talk about the Hyperion for a change?

Im stating pertinent facts, your doing the nonsense, like above.

 

[PGAMiami]

Amir finished testing my unit and installing the latest firmware that resolved the issues below 300hz. Audio Control customer support was excellent. They replied to me right away and started working with Amir to fix the problem.

I will report back once it’s installed with Dirac ART running. I’m more about the audio.

As I mentioned previously, my TAD R1s never sounded better on two channel music than with my Denon 4800H running ART with four subs. This includes previous experience with professional RPG room treatments, ultra expensive DACs and Mitch Barnett 60,000 tap convolution filters on Roon. The way that ART integrates the four subs with the TADs makes a huge difference, trumping gains from DACs that may be better than what’s what’s in the Denon.

Now I can have both, a great DAC with great DSP.

 

[rhale64]

I am really happy to hear all this. I had a feeling about this piece. And because of that I pre-ordered it just trusting in my gut feeling. And from feedback from people that new the new company behind this product. They apparently have a very good name in the HDMI switching world. And that's where most problems come in with these things. And hearing it would have Dirac Art on top of all that, was icing on the cake.
I can't wait to get mine. It should be fun.

 

[amirm]

Did the analogue in THD+n vs frequency change too? Any change to the overall SINAD figure? (Forgive my ignorance but I thought <300hz would still affect the overall figure)

No to latter. On the former, I did not test and the unit is packed to go out. But my guess is that it is also fixed.

 

[prerich]

Like I've mentioned before, I'm floored by Audiocontrol's customer service! These guys are second to none! Well done Audiocontrol!!!!!! So I guess the APR-16 gets a golfing panther?

 

[Krobar]

Like I've mentioned before, I'm floored by Audiocontrol's customer service! These guys are second to none! Well done Audiocontrol!!!!!! So I guess the APR-16 gets a golfing panther?

With corrected firmware it looks like a clear golfing panther to me as it has done better than any multichannel unit reviewed so far (The 3 units ahead of it are stereo with DSP not multichannel). On top of that it has a nice display and a few nice unique features like full 48gbit HDMI and EDID options.

 

[PGAMiami]

Looks to me like I must have gotten one of the very first units. Great job on the part of my dealer. Audio Control customer service has been extremely responsive and effective. Given all above and the complexity of these units, I’m even more impressed with the APR16.

As discussed many times, the better DACs and analogue components these days are essentially transparent. The differences are mostly about the DSP. But this is very hard if not impossible to test without checking acoustical in room results. Turns out Amir found a DSP bug, but he’s not really testing for these and there may be many more in many of the products we all are buying. That said, the way Audio Control dealt with this issue is reassuring.

 

[rhale64]

I agree totally. I am glad that they took action right away. Instead of what some other companies have done in the past. Great job AVPro, or AudioControl, or whoever is in charge. I am just glad I made this purchase. And sure wish I would get mine.

 

[Jerry Sobel]

More than 16 Channels - Marantz AV10 [15+4subs] as an example, I think even AV20 has 13+4.Emotivas, top of line Anthems …., so pretty common in AVP category.
16 channels is used as it is probably enough to have two DAC boards, 8CH each, similar to MiniDsp or Monoprice [and trinnov, storm too work wiht multiples of 8]

This is CI/Pro processor, so not intended for usual “bit better than soundbar” living room installs, where you are absolutely fine with 16Ch, as you say.
And for such systems, i still think 16 channels is not enough for high performant system [and you should aim for one, if you spend 8k for processor].

9 channels for ear level - you need wides for modern Atmos/DTS:X mixes, especially in uncompressed formats.
4 channels for basic overhead panning [6 is not adding that much value over 4, so 4 is good enough for 1 row]]
And this is for 1 row HT - once you get into multi-row HT territory, you start to add channels like crazy

4 subs for spatial coverage and seat to seat consistency is long established science [Velti/SFM]

so yes, 9.4.4 is basic layout for high performance immersive audio.

I have the AudioControl X9 and I have 4 subwoofers in my room. One issue that the X9 had when using Dirac Live with bass management is that if I plugged in a subwoofer to the XLR input that is labeled subwoofer, the unit did not recognize subwoofers that are placed on channels 14, 15 and 16. The only workaround was to not use the subwoofer connection and place two subs on 14 and 15 and to connect with a Y cable the other two subwoofers to channel 16. I have been waiting for the Hyperion 16 to come out but I can that the channels are the same and I do not want to get into the same situation. Also, I am concerned about the low frequency issue that a beta firmware update (?) has fixed....hmmm. What I appreciate about the Anthem and Marantz is that they have 4 separate subwoofer inputs.

 

[amirm]

Audio Control customer service has been extremely responsive and effective.

Not just them but key engineering team which jumped on this to fix the problem. I am sure they had other things to do.

Importantly, they did not do the usual complaining of why I had not run the review by them first. They saw a problem, and immediately went to work to replicate and fix it.

Very, very positive interaction. They even offered another test unit if I had to return the review unit back.

 

[Oddball]

Not just them but key engineering team which jumped on this to fix the problem. I am sure they had other things to do.

Importantly, they did not do the usual complaining of why I had not run the review by them first. They saw a problem, and immediately went to work to replicate and fix it.

Very, very positive interaction. They even offered another test unit if I had to return the review unit back.

I'd take their offer. You can do a long term reliability test and get this puppy in the rack for some time. If it had 1 more channel, I would not mind that.

 

[Mort]

Importantly, they did not do the usual complaining of why I had not run the review by them first. They saw a problem, and immediately went to work to replicate and fix it.

That's pretty cool.

 

[amirm]

I'd take their offer. You can do a long term reliability test and get this puppy in the rack for some time. If it had 1 more channel, I would not mind that.

It is a pretty expensive product just to borrow for that reason. They have offered the DPR16 16x. It is a neat looking processor but seeing how it is all digital, I am not sure what I would be testing.

 

[Sokel]

I am not sure what I would be testing.

DSP/EQ torture test for signs of quantization errors and noise.
That would be a nice first by you!

(we already have a thread testing purely digital here)

 

[Oddball]

It is a pretty expensive product just to borrow for that reason. They have offered the DPR16 16x. It is a neat looking processor but seeing how it is all digital, I am not sure what I would be testing.

Not as expensive as Marks you have as amps - I never got passed Bystons and they still seem great. If the channel count is right, this seems like a best AVP thing around.

As @Fidji noted, they should have gone with 1 channel more just for a good measure. 16 channels continues to be an odd channel count despite the number.